Ascension barricade for chain link fence structures

ABSTRACT

An ascension barricade for use on chain link fence structures utilizes L-shaped brackets which rest on the top rail of the fence structure and in a position such that one leg of the bracket extends downwardly through the convolutions of one of the picket wires of the chain link fabric. The bracket support wires at one side of the fence obstruct ascension efforts.

I United States Patent [191 Ford 1451 Apr. 23, 1974 ASCENSION BARRICADE FOR CHAIN LINK FENCE STRUCTURES [76] Inventor: Francis L. Ford, 1 110 Raymond Ave., Fort Pierce, Fla. 33450 [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 211 App]. No.: 353,442

[52] US. Cl. 256/11, 256/34 [51] Int. Cl E04h 17/00 [58] Field of Search 256/11, 12, 32, 34, 35,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,259 4/1902 Lavely 256/11 UX 1,596,621 8/1926 pm16r,,, 255/11 2,015,615 9/1935 Caplinger 256/11 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roger L. Martin, Esq.

57 ABSTRACT An ascension barricade for use on chain link fence structures utilizes L-shaped brackets which rest on the top rail of the fence structure and in a' position such that one leg of the bracket extends downwardly through the convolutions of one of the picket wires of the chain link fabric. The bracket support wires at one side of the fence obstruct ascension efforts.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ASCENSION BARRICADE FOR CHAIN LINK FENCE STRUCTURES The invention relates to an ascension barricade for chain link fences and more particularly to a fence top barricade for chain link fences which can be readily installed or removed from most existing chain link fence structures without removing existing fixtures or otherwise disassembling existing components of the fence structure.

Ascension barricades for fences of the type contemplated normally have arms that are supported and mounted on the fence posts, and the arms are intercon nected by wire that quite frequently is of the barbed wire type. The arms of the fence top barricades sometimes extend vertically along the axis of the fence posts, but in most cases they are angularly arranged to the general plane of the fence fabric so as to overlap the fence side which is most frequently ascended by wouldbe trespassers.

In most urban and suburband residential-areas it is common to encounter leash laws and ordinances that prohibit the unrestrained roaming of domestic animals such as dogs. Many such areas also have zoning limitations on the heigths of residential fences and it is not uncommon to find that the confined animals are either capable of ascending the confining fence structures regardless of their heigths, or capable of jumping the highest fences permitted under local zoning restrictions. Ergo there is a need for an ascension barricade that can be used as an attachment for residential fence structures of the chain link type and which can effectively deter ascension and jumping of such fences by the domesticated animals that require confinement.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved ascension barricade for chain link fences. Yet

another object is to provide a barricade which can be readily mounted on residential type chain link fence structures that are equipped with decorative fixtures without removing such fixtures from thefence. Still a further object is to provide a simple, inexpensive ascension barricade for a chain link fence that can be readily installed by the home owner without regard for existing legal limitations on the heigths of fences in the residential area.

In accord with the invention, an ascension barricade that is adapted for mounting on chain link fences is provided with brackets which simply rest upon the top rail of the fence structure. The brackets are spaced apart on the rail and are provided with an elongated leg that extends generally vertically below the rail and down through the convolutions of one of the picket wires of the chain link fabric. This provides a coupling with the wire fabric of the existing fence structure and which limits movement of the bracket about the axis of the rail. The bracket has a wire supporting member that is preferably in the form of another leg that extends at an angle to the general plane of the fence and which serves as a mounting and support piece for wires that may be strung between the brackets in the barricade arrangement/The bracket is preferably formed by bending a piece of elongated bar stock intermediate itsopposite ends so as to provide a pair of perpendicular legs, one of which serves to engage the fabric while the other serves as a support for the barrier wires. Among the advantages to the arrangement is that the brackets can be mounted on the existing residential chain link fence structures without the need for removing decorative fixtures from the topsof the fenceposts. In most cases, the top rails of existing residential chain link fence structures are at, or slightly under, the maximum height limitations set by local ordinances, and hence one may use brackets with mutually perpendicular legs and be in compliance with local governing regulations. Yet an other advantage lies in the simplicity and ease with which such brackets may be installed and removed from existing chain link fence structures by unskilled personnel.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, to-

gether with further objects and advantages thereof,

may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a fragment of a chain link fence structure as seen with the barricade mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the manner in which the brackets are coupled to the wire fabric; and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view as seen generally along the Lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

Reference is now made to the drawings and wherein a conventional chain link fence structure is generally designated at 10 and seen as equipped with an ascension barricade designated at 11. V

The fence structure is of a conventional residential chain link type and includes a vertical fence post 13.

which is appropriately mounted in the ground. The post 13 is seen as equipped with a decorative cap element 14 at its upper end and together with an adjacent fence post (not shown) serves to support an elongated, horizontally extending, top rail structure 15 spacedly above the ground. Rail 15 includes an elongated tubular pipe section 16 that is arranged horizontally between the spaced fence posts. Section 16 is equipped and fixed at its opposite ends to a rail end cap such as designated at 17. The caps 17 are, in turn, secured to the adjacent fence posts at the opposite ends of the rail section 16, as by means of metal straps 18.

Structure 10 includes a chain link fabric 20 which is generally oriented in a vertical plane in the fence structure. As those skilled in the art are well aware, the wire fabric 20 is composed of a plurality of generally helical picket wires 21 that are uniformly oriented and sointerlaced in the weave of the fabric that each convolution forms a chain-type link between the adjacent convolutions of the adjacent respective picket wires in the fabric structure. The picket wires 21 generally extend transverse to the direction the fabric is tensioned in assembling the fence, and hence are generally vertically oriented in the fence structure 10. The fabric 20 is secured at its opposite ends 19 to the adjacent fence posts through the use of elongated tension bars, such as is designated at 22 in FIG. 1. These tension bars 22 extend through the convolutions 23 of the picket wires 24 at the opposite ends 19 of the fabric 20. The tension bars 22 are, in turn, connected to the adjacent posts, as by means of vertically spaced straps such as illustrated at 25 in FIG. 1. The fabric is secured between its opposite ends to the top rail structure in the illustrated embodiment by means of wire ties such as illustrated at 26 in FIG. 1. The ties of course serve to retain the tension fabric in a vertical plane in the fence structure.

The barricade 11 embodying the principles of the invention is illustrated as including a plurality of L- shaped brackets 30 that are longitudinally spaced apart along the top rail 15 of the fence structure 10. The brackets are preferably made by bending a piece of elongated bar stock intermediate its opposite ends so as to provide a pair of substantially perpendicular legs in the bracket structure. The convolutions 27 of each picket wire 21 are generally vertically aligned below the rail in the fence structure 10, and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each bracket has a depending leg 31 that extends downwardly at one of the opposite sides 28 of the rail and then therebelow through several of the vertically aligned convolutions 27 of one of the picket wires in the fabric structure. The other leg 32, on the other hand, rests on the top rail 15 and projects laterally of the plane of the fabric at the other side of the rail so as to overlapthe area enclosed by the fence structure and thus provide a supporting member on which wire can be strung to provide a barrier between the brackets. The horizontal legs 32 are provided with suitable spaced holes 33 to facilitate mounting the barrier wires 24 in the space between the brackets, the wires 24 in the embodiment being threaded through the eyes provided by the holes and then tied to the end brackets of the barricade 11 as illustrated by reference to the end bracket 35 in FIG. 1.

To prevent pivotal movement of the bracket about the axis of the depending leg 31, the end brackets 35 of the barricade may be tied to the adjacent fence post, as by means of a wire tie designated at 36 in FIG. 1. If desired, the brackets may be also'securely fastened to the rail structure during use, as by means of a wire tie such as designated at 37 although such is optional and frequently unnecessary in establishing the ascension barricade for domestic animals.

With the fabric secured to the top rail and tensioned horizontally as in conventional chain link fence structures, sufficient rigidity exists in the fabric structure to support the brackets in a properly oriented position to carry out their intended function.

From the foregoing disclosure it is evident that existing residential type chain link fence structure can be readily equipped with the barricade contemplated rapidly and with relatively little effort by anon-skilled per: son and furthermore that the method employed for supporting the bracket avoids the need for removing any existing fixtures in the fence structure.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described by way of i1- lustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended herein to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. a

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a chain link fence structure that isequipped, with a barricade to the ascension thereof, the improvement where said structure includes an elongated, horizontally extending, rigid top rail that is supported spacedly above the ground and has opposite sides, a chain link fabric that is generally oriented in a vertical plane and has opposite ends, and means between said ends securing said fabric to said rail; said fabric comprising a plurality of generally helical picket wires that are interlaced in the structure of the fabric between said ends, and each of said wires having a plurality of generally vertically aligned convolutions that are located below said rail; said barricade including a plurality of brackets that are supported on and longitudinally spaced apart along said rail, each of said brackets having an elongated leg that extends dependingly downwardly at one of the opposite sides of the rail and therebelow through aligned convolutions of one of said picket wires, and a support member that extends laterally of said plane at the other of the opposite sides of the rail; said barricade further including wire means extending between the bracket members at said other of the opposite sides of the rail and being secure to and supported by said bracket members.

2. The improvement in accord with claim 1 where the I leg and support member of each bracket are generally perpendicularly arranged so that the support members of the bracket extend generally horizontally at said other side of said rail.

3. The improvement in accord with claim 1 where each of said brackets comprises an elongated L-shaped member. 

1. In a chain link fence structure that is equipped with a barricade to the ascension thereof, the improvement where said structure includes an elongated, horizontally extending, rigid top rail that is supported spacedly above the ground and has opposite sides, a chain link fabric that is generally oriented in a vertical plane and has opposite ends, and means between said ends securing said fabric to said rail; said fabric comprising a plurality of generally helical picket wires that are interlaced in the structure of the fabric between said ends, and each of said wires having a plurality of generally vertically aligned convolutions that are located below said rail; said barricade including a plurality of brackets that are supported on and longitudinally spaced apart along said rail, each of said brackets having an elongated leg that extends dependingly downwardly at one of the opposite sides of the rail and therebelow through aligned convolutions of one of said picket wires, and a support member that extends laterally of said plane at the other of the opposite sides of the rail; said barricade further including wire means extending between the bracket members at said other of the opposite sides of the rail and being secure to and supported by said bracket members.
 2. ThE improvement in accord with claim 1 where the leg and support member of each bracket are generally perpendicularly arranged so that the support members of the bracket extend generally horizontally at said other side of said rail.
 3. The improvement in accord with claim 1 where each of said brackets comprises an elongated L-shaped member. 